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lot of factors</a> that go into choosing a college, and food might not be #1, but it’s still important to look into—especially if you have any dietary restrictions. Plus, the average cost of a college meal plan is <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"http://www.moneyforcollegeproject.com/2011/11/14/ditch-your-college-meal-plan-to-save-money/">$3,200 per year. If you spend the night, you can eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the cafeteria or on-campus eateries. Usually, the admissions office will even cover the cost of these meals.</p>
<p>Consider looking at <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://plexuss.com/college/duke-university">Duke University</a> just for the chance to eat at the school with the <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"http://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodculture/80-best-colleges-for-food-in-america/ss-BBw07Jj#image=80">best food for college students</a>. While eating with your host, you can ask them and their friends questions. This is especially helpful if any of them are in a club or are a major you have interest in. These non-rehearsed, honest answers are invaluable to your college search process.</p><br>
<h4>2. Attend Real Classes (for Free)</h4>
<p>You don’t want your first college class to take place on your first day of college. The classes and education are what you’re paying for, so try them out ahead of time. Mock college courses held on open house days for parents and prospective students are great, but they’re all staged to impress.</p>
<p>For a real insider perspective, sit in on classes during your college visits. Admissions might schedule one, but you can also attend classes with your host or their friends. Ask to look at a syllabus to get a feel for the homework and reading due each class. After class, listen to the students’ thoughts and get to know their favorite and least favorite courses and professors. This will help familiarize you with <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/her-campus/4-ways-your-college-class_b_3658223.html">what college classes are like</a>. </p><br>
<h4>3. Explore Weeknight Night-Life and Participate</h4>
<p>The last thing you want is to commit to a school, get there, and then realize there is absolutely nothing to do past 6 p.m. Walk through the dorms or around campus after dinner to see what’s going on. Do students hang out in the student center or gym? Are there rec sports being played?</p>
<p>Being on campus at night gives you the chance to participate. See a sign for a club meeting, speaking event, or on-campus concert? Feel free to walk in and take a listen. Either go at it alone or drag your host or one of their friends along. Your host might even have activities that night that he or she can take you along to.</p>
<p>Have some homework you need to get done during your visit? Look to see where students study and go there to get your work done. Even if you don’t have work to do, it’s worth checking out or asking when and where students study. The library is usually a good place to start. </p><br>
<h4>4. Get a Feel for Dorm Life</h4>
<p>Dorm life varies from campus to campus. Some dorms have single gender floors while others are co-ed. Admissions typically have college dorm tours in the most pristine and spacious dorms on campus. Staying overnight gives you the chance to see a real dorm room, its amenities (or lack thereof) and the bathroom. You can also ask your host’s friends about their living situations and maybe even see another dorm.</p>
<p>While on the floor, take note of how people interact. Do they chat and smile at one another? Or does everyone keep to themselves? Are doors left open or closed? How would you want people to act if you lived in a dorm? For colleges with stricter dorm rules, like many religious colleges, an overnight visit is a chance to observe the rules in action and ask students their thoughts.</p><br>
<h4>5. Hear from Honest, Non-Admissions-Trained Students</h4>
<p>Reading colorful college brochures and watching admissions videos on Facebook only give you biased information. Spend time on campus asking anyone you can some essential <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://plexuss.com/news/article/questions-to-ask-on-a-college-visit">college visit questions</a>.</p>
<p>Ask them why they picked that school and if they regret the decision. Do they have any friends who’ve gotten hurt on campus? If they’re open to it, ask about their financial aid packages or scholarships. Find out what clubs they’re into and how they get involved on campus. Ask if they ever feel bored or if the cafeteria isn’t open when they want to eat. These little details can all aid in making a decision. </p>
<p>It’s also good to learn thoughts on general education requirements, work study options, academic rigor, and campus support for finding internships and jobs. No college will admit to prospective students that it has faults, so it’s up to you to gain an accurate understanding of a college. Don’t be afraid to ask <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2014/03/03/five-things-college-admissions-directors-wont-tell-you/#1e7123c418ec">probing questions</a>.</p><br>
<h4>6. Take in the Campus Environment</h4>
<p>Walk around campus and take it all in. Are there off-campus places you can walk to? How far away are buildings? Are kids running, walking, long boarding, or riding a unicycle? Look for bulletin boards and see what activities, clubs, and fundraisers are being advertised. Does anything catch your eye? What is there for students to do to <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://plexuss.com/news/article/happy-in-college">stay happy</a> during the semester?</p>
<p>A campus visit is the <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://www.elearners.com/education-resources/online-learning/top-10-reasons-why-students-choose-college/">#5</a> factor influencing college students in choosing their school, so make the most out of your visit. Attending campus tours and open house days with your parents is great, but it won’t give you the whole picture. Are you ready to step into the college student world by spending a weeknight in a college dormitory? The experience might be daunting or even uncomfortable at times, but it’s essential to finding out what a college is really like before you pay tuition. Plus, it just might be the most enjoyable part of the college search process.</p>
<p>Contact the colleges’ admissions offices to learn how to schedule college tours and overnight visits. Prospective students hoping for <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://plexuss.com/news/article/sports-recruitment">sports recruitment</a> might make arrangements through a coach to stay overnight with current players. </p>
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